A novel strain of Planomicrobium isolated from paper mill and its capacity of cellulose degradation

A novel strain, designated WH2-56, was isolated from a slime sample collected from a paper company along the Yangtze River during March, 2018. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain WH2-56 was related to members of the genus Planomicrobium. Cellulolytic activity of the sample was screened and confirmed by Congo red-polysaccharide interactions and examined by broth culture using filter paper (FP) with no starch as the sole carbon source. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) was used to confirm the delicate morphological changes of FP during bio-degradation. Different cellulosic materials were used to measure biodegradation effects and optimum incubation conditions. The activity of FPase and carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) were checked by 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS agents) with different carbon sources, which showed a peak at 0.62 U/mL of CMCase on day 4, and at 0.38 U/mL of FPase on day 5.